MEMBERS of the Coffs Harbour and District Banana Growers Association have expressed concern over the potential import of fresh Cavendish bananas from the Philippines.
Last month the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) announced a review of quarantine arrangements following demands from the Philippines to allow banana imports into Australia.
Australia does not currently permit the import of fresh bananas from any international market.
DAFF has stated that Australia will only agree to adjust the import rules if the assessment concludes the “measures effectively manage the biosecurity risks”.
Despite this assurance, Leanne Gentle from the local Banana Growers Association said changes are simply not worth the risk.
“Australian farmers must meet strict standards and requirements for the growing, production and sale of their bananas, and the risk of disease from imports to our local farms would be catastrophic to our industry and the farming families,” said Ms Gentle, who runs a banana farm in Bonville with her husband.
She is equally concerned about the potential financial impacts on local growers if international exports “flood the market”.
“The DAFF assessment process will completely bypass the important and potentially devastating impacts to Australian banana growers, many of them being generational farmers, and their families,” Ms Gentle said.
“The cost impacts of imports will almost certainly see Aussie farmers trying to compete at low prices.
“The Philippines produce over 5.9 million tonnes of bananas per annum, compared to under 375,000 tonnes domestically.
“Australia produces more than enough high quality bananas for the domestic market and allowing the import of bananas will flood our markets, exceeding demand and thereby creating downward pressure on the domestic price.”
Ms Gentle said Coffs Coast banana farmers are already struggling to meet ever-increasing costs of supply, compliance costs and regulatory constraints.
“Additionally, farmers are at the mercy of the market price for their produce, which is entirely out of their control and influence,” she said.
“Cheap prices at the supermarket always means low returns to the farmers.
“We have no doubt that imports will see a rapid decline in Aussie production and force farmers out of business.”
The $1.3 billion Australian banana industry directly supports more than 540 growers and 18,000 workers.
The local position is supported by the Australian Banana Growers Council (ABGC), which says imports are unnecessary and would create serious risk for the Australian industry.
“That entire production could be put at risk through the entry of exotic diseases if overseas-grown bananas are brought into Australia,” said ABGC CEO Leanne Erakovic.
“There is no quarantine measure that can reduce any imported disease risk to zero.
“Almost safe is not safe enough. Allowing imports creates a pathway for diseases that could devastate our industry and the regional communities it supports.
“As we’ve seen with other introduced pests such as fire ants and cane toads, once introduced, they are extremely hard, if not impossible, to eradicate,” Ms Erakovic said.
As a member of the World Trade Organization, Australia is obliged to consider requests for market access from trading partners.
This includes requests for alternative measures, such as the one made by the Philippines regarding Cavendish bananas.
“It is important that we respond to this request within the accepted international trade framework to reinforce to all our trading partners that we are a trustworthy partner in international trade,” DAFF stated on its website.
“In the same way, other countries are obliged to respond to Australia’s market access requests.
“Where possible, we must develop import conditions that achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP), are scientifically justified, and do not unreasonably restrict trade.”
DAFF has run information sessions in Coffs Harbour and other banana growing regions in recent weeks.
Moving forward, the department will undertake a technical visit to the Philippines to gather information on the nation’s commercial production, pest management and export practices for Cavendish bananas.
An issues paper and report will then be prepared, and public consultation will be undertaken.
The initial assessment will involve:
● a comprehensive scientific assessment for the three main pathogens of concern (Moko, black Sigatoka and banana freckle) and consideration of risk management measures alternative to those proposed in the previous 2008 import risk analysis
● a review of the 2008 import risk analysis to ensure the assessments of other pests are still appropriate and determine whether any new biosecurity risks have emerged since 2008
● consideration of the Philippines’ request for access for an additional cultivar ‘GCTCV-218’ (also known as ‘Formosana’), and an additional export province, Davao de Oro in the Davao
Region or Region 11, that were not assessed in the 2008 import risk analysis.
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